Associate Professor Rickard is a colorectal surgeon at Macquarie University Hospital and Concord Hospital. He has extensive experience in advanced colorectal surgical techniques, colorectal cancer, laparoscopic colorectal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease and surgical epidemiology. Following graduation with honours from the University of Sydney, he undertook further surgical training locally (receiving a master's degree in Epidemilogy) and internationally. He is currently a member of the Australia and New Zealand Training Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and has been Chairman of the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He is the Head of Department of Colorectal Surgery at Concord Hospital.